Effective rural education depends on active community involvement. This ethnographic case study examines three models of community organization as an explanation of how community action occurs. The three models are: (1) individuals interacting in formal and informal groups; (2) networks of "weak ties" effective for diffusing information and…

This extensive survey pretest utilized in-depth interviews with school superintendents and city managers in selected cities throughout Oregon and in Los Angeles. The purpose of the pilot study was to explore the similarities and differences in conflict management between the two professions. The study reveals that superintendents and city managers…

This report of a conference on "Desegration without Turmoil" describes the community organization and public information efforts that preceded the implementation of government ordered school integration in cities where this transition was accomplished peacefully. It is the position of the participants in the conference that peaceful desegration in…

This paper examines the functioning of the Public School Safety Commission that was established in a large west coast city to study the problem of violence in the city's public schools. The commission was established by the board of education in the spring of 1974 and issued its final report in July 1974. Over 60 community organizations,…

In January 1970, the Department of Labor restructured its Neighborhood Youth Corps (NYC) out-of-school program and made age limits for entering the program more restrictive. Education, skill training, and work experience were emphasized. The restructured NYC-2 program was carried out in urban or growth areas, but the original NYC-1 program was…

National data increasingly show that the prevailing model of workforce development-- job search and basic training leading to an entry-level job-- does little to promote economic self sufficiency or career progression. In the face of strong evidence that some form of post-secondary training and education is needed to support a family, there is a…

Intermediate organizations are non-profit structures active in the area of integration through economic activity aimed at reintegrating those with severe social and occupational problems into the labor market in France. With the employment crises of the past 2 decades, these organizations have been confronted by an ever-increasing demand and an…

Reports on a project that investigated, by means of interviews, the information needs, information-gathering strategies, and information use of 10 urban and 9 rural community groups in Australia. Highlights include accuracy and reliability as criteria by all groups, rural groups' perceptions of being disadvantaged, and the importance of public…

Examined relationships between families and staff from community agencies in a poor urban neighborhood, investigating how they affected urban educational restructuring efforts that encouraged family-school-community collaboration. Findings indicated that these relationships often rested on inherent inequalities stemming from conditions that placed…

Australian Landcare groups of volunteers, farmers, and other landowners address local conservation and land use issues. In studies of two networks of Landcare groups, networks attracted funding, created opportunities for participation and shared learning, improved communication and management practices, and increased member knowledge. These…

To explore potential bases of positive development among gang youth, attributes of positive individual and social behavior were assessed in individual interviews with 45 African American adolescent male members of inner-city Detroit gangs and 50 African American adolescent males from the same communities but involved in community-based…

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) increasingly is being used to study and address environmental justice. This article presents the results of a cross-site case study of four CBPR partnerships in the United States that researched environmental health problems and worked to educate legislators and promote relevant public policy. The…

Grant writing experience can be a valuable asset for students completing masters-level degree programs across a variety of disciplines. A service learning grant writing project was incorporated in a multidisciplinary program evaluation course as part of a writing requirement. Twelve students served as "ghost writers" and wrote grant…

This paper builds on previous work which analyzed ways of speaking, the use of space, and relationship formation in the work and play of organizations, in order to determine how youth develop a sense of self, empowerment, and persistence. Examined here are the speech interactions taken from three teaching lessons involving youth and youth leaders…

Lying within the Cumberland Plateau of Appalachia, the Kentucky River Area Development District (KRADD) comprises eight rural Kentucky counties: Breathitt, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Owsley, Perry, and Wolfe. This report reviews regional history of economic development and examines socioeconomic indicators, including education, poverty, and the…